KAMPALA – More Ugandan women can now own assets, are educated and faceless violence in their relationships compared to the past, a new report shows
The report commissioned by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development shows that most women are now empowered due to declining Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.
“The observable decline of sexual violence among women can be attributed to changes in economic activities in recent times especially for those in urban areas were some joining labour market as early entrepreneurs,” said lead researcher Dr Madina Goloba, while releasing the report in Kampala on Tuesday.
Dr. Goloba added that the change of perception of men and boys about girls has also greatly brought down the levels of GBV.
The report titled ‘Gender Issues in Uganda’ indicates that gender-based sexual violence has declined by 5 percent in both urban and rural areas between 2011 and 2016.
According to the findings, there was a drop in physical violence in urban areas to 46.9 percent in 2016 from 49.3 percent in 2011.
The report, however, indicates that sexual violence among men in urban areas rose from 7.7 in 2011 to 8.7 percent in 2016.
The report also reveals that property ownership remained almost unchanged between 2011 and 2016 as agricultural land ownership declined from about 72 per cent to 63 per cent due to changing economic patterns of households with a shift from land to services.
Less than 10 percent of households indicated to own a vehicle, refrigerator, motorcycle and cassette as such commodities are for affluent people.
Overall the share of employment increased for men compared to females between the two surveys as share of young people joining active labour market increased by 4.7 per cent among men while those of young women declined by same magnitude for years of survey.
Ms Guloba said that the change of perception of men and boys has also greatly brought down the gender based levels.
The minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hajjat Janet Mukwaya, said gender inequalities limit the ability of women and girls to fully participate in and benefit from developmental programs.
“Government has prioritized within her national development agenda to support both human resource and finances to end it,” she said.
She said the government in January launched a joint programme with Swedish government to fight gender based violence through legislation, and accountability.
